China and America: the Global Superpower - Essay Example

Approach to Contemporary Chinese studies College: Background Information China has in the past years risen above the ranksin world’s development. This increase has been seen across various parameters including the economic, political and social aspects. America seems to be grappling with economic hardships. However, China’s looming flourish and economic growth continues to be exhibited in the horizon. Some journalists and scholars have even termed this as a Chinese Century. Pundits have even gone a step further to claim that China is setting the platform to be the next world superpower, dislodging the United States of America from its fancied place. However, there have been skeptics from certain quarters, questioning the sustainability of China’s growth and her ability to surpass the United States of America as a superpower by the year 2050. Some have indicated that the economy of China s set to decline and falter given the fact that the country is marred with much corruption. These critics have pointed to the fact the China is governed by one party, lacks checks and balances and that the freedom of the media is not observed. In this aspect, it has been noted that such a country is not poised to prosper and flourish in the modern world. Also, China continues to position herself as a country to reckon with, and one that is set to topple the other super powers and reach the top. This aspect has been exhibits in the nation’s capture of top prizes and accolades. Among these accolades include America’s prominent intellectuals and receipt of six Nobel prizes awarded to the country (Central Intelligence Agency, 1993). Introduction China’s journey to becoming a super power is coined mainly in its economic muscles. The production of China has increased thanks to three years of Communism in the country by 1970s. This increase has, however, not been a smooth one as the country had to grapple with the death of about 35 million people dying of hunger during the devastating famine that hit the country in the years 1958 and 1978. This famine was as a result of forced industrialization by the Mao reign. China saw its population grow rapidly during this era, and there was a slight improvement in the standard of life in the country. Chinas threat to America has further been characterized by the steady growth of its economy and a reduction in population. This rapid growth was achieved three decades to 2010. China’s economic achievements were rated to be among the most amazing ones in the history of human species (Economist Intelligence Unit, 1995). The economy grew to over 40- fold between the years 1978-200. Projections indicate that the economy of America was 15 times that of China by the year 1978. However, it is believed that China’s growth and development over the years have seen this gap reduced. In fact, China’s economy is projected to be on the brink of exceeding the economy of America over the next few years. This aspect sets the foundation for China to take over the world super power tag from the United States of America. The wages of American workers in the middle class have been stagnant or grown at a snail pace over the years. However, China’s wages in the same class have been doubling over the years, every decade. When compared to Kenya, Nigeria or Pakistan in the year 19980, China was in the same category with this category. However, China has had an increase tenfold as compared to these countries (Central Intelligence Agency, 1992). China vs USA The economic flourish of China is quite impressive when compared to similar countries over the years. Between the years 1870 to 1900, the United States of America swam in expanded industrialization. At this time, scholars like Karl Max casted doubts on whether Communist countries stood any chance of prospering economically given the fact that Capitalist countries like the America were succeeding economically. America saw 30 years of incredible per capita income growth. The growth experienced was up to 100 percent. However, the per capita income of China has undergone with a margin of more than 1,300 percent. The journey of China towards surpassing the United States of America as the world superpower has been greatly talked about. This has further been characterized by the quadrupling of the country’s industrial output. This industrial output is now level with the American economy (Fairbanks & John, 1987). This war of world superpower tag has further been taken to an automobile sector. The production of China in the automobile sector has since been raised nine-fold. This increase saw the production of automobile by China increase from two million motor vehicles back in 2000 to 8 million cars by the year 200. This increase is said to have continued to date, with China now setting the pace in the automobile industry globally. In fact, the automobile produced in China alone has outgrown the ones produced in Japan and America combined. China’s strength in the automobile industry is seen as setting the precedence to take over from the United States of America. Between 2008 and 2010, China is said to have contributed to over 85 percent of the total increase of automobile manufacturing globally (Bergsten & Fred, 1996). China’s history is both complex and fascinating. It is a country whose culture is defined by both warlike and peaceful incidents. The country has been through a series of warlords’ reigns and has also seen peaceful reigns too. China has been setting itself up in the path of becoming a global power, and eventually taking up the position of the world super power from the United States of America. One of the most essential issues to China currently is dealing with the political stability in the country. The war for world super power tag has pitted China against the United States of America; China views the America as a representative of the ideals and policies of the West. China is widely seen as a representative of the Eastern Civilization. The American influences are seen by most Chinese people as a threat to the political stability of China. On the other side, there are mixed reactions from the West regarding the rise of China as a world power. There have been elements of condemnations of the country. However, certain Western countries have tries to sweep these ideas below the carpet and sought to have a normal relationship with China. As much as China has been seen as an economic threat to the Western nations, these nations have still struggled to keep close ties with China (Kraus &Willy, 1982). For example, Canada has adopted low key and moderate approach to human rights. The relations between China and the US have, however, been very strained ones. This can be attributed to the fact that the country at more threat of being toppled from the super power status is the United States of America. Moreover, the country that threatens to topple the US from its prestigious place is China. In 1995, China was granted the status of the Most Favored Nation –MFN by America. This meant that the relations of America and China would be built around commerce and not matters of Human Rights. Adding to China’s push for a world superpower is the modernization of the country’s military. This modernization of the military of China has been the talk of Western countries, with the United States of America being overly concerned with China’s military prowess. Some analysts have pointed out that this modernization is just a standard upgrade of military equipment. Apart from the military prowess, China is walking the path of economic reconstruction and prosperity (Barnett & Doak, 1974). Becoming a superpower cannot be achieved by a country on its own. There is the need for incorporating other countries. In what is viewed as China’s quest to become a world superpower, the country has focused on its military power. The modernization of China’s military has been rooted on its close ties with other countries, among them Russia. Despite the fact that Russia and China have in the past looked at each other with a lot of suspicions, the two countries have since had closer ties. These ties have been attributed to the similarities in the geopolitics of the two countries. In the year 1996, China was responsible for over 30 percent if the arms sold to Russia. Nevertheless, China has purchased military equipment worth 4.5 billion US dollars. This purchase was done between 1991 and 1995. The purchase of such massive equipment has pitted China among the world’s strongest militaries. To add onto this point, China has seen the application of advanced technology to the military of the country. With all the massive military equipment, China is seen to be moving towards being a new world superpower (Zhao & Suisheng, 2001). Economic Decline of America Different from the flourished progress of China, the story is a little bit gloomy. This has intensified the belief that China is set to replace the United States of America as Global Superpower by the year 2050. It is undisputed that America has produced some top entrepreneurs and engineers. These high brains have produced the globe’s most important technologies hence becoming very wealthy. However, these successes have not been evenly distributed and have been enjoyed by very few individuals. Further, the average American workers have seen their wages either decline or stagnate over the last 40 years. The inequality in America’s wealth has continued to hurt the economy (Lardy & Nicholas, 1994). It is estimated that just one percent of the American population holds the wealth equivalent to that held by 90 to 95 percent, a trend that is seen to be fast accelerating. The young generation of America is said to be doing very badly in terms of economy. The statistics of International trade point to the fact that the overall economy of America is not doing well compared to the economy of China (USTR, 1995). America highly relies on the selling of non functional goods, a view that has been seen to put the country on the brink of a looming economic crisis should the world lose taste for the goods. The currency of America is seen to be on the brink of collapsing and the standard of living going down. These are some of the issues that have led to the belief that China is set to remove the United States of America as a Global Superpower. China is seen to be moving towards exploring her top potentials. Military advancement and economic prosperity of China forms the basis of such arguments. Moreover, the possible decline of economic power of the United States of America and the possible drop of the standards of living in America further fuels the notion that China will sooner than later be the new Global Superpower by the year 2050 (Wu & Baiyi, 2001). Amidst these arguments of China being the Global Superpower, there is one category that America seems to be leading China. This is the population growth. America’s rate of population growth has been high since 20 years ago as compared t that of China. Projections indicate that, by 2050, China will have a population size similar to the one it had in 2000. America’s population is projected to grow by up to 50 percent by the year 2050. However, these projections do not spell good news for the Americans. This is specifically because this rapid growth is not commensurate to the performance of the 2050 American dream. The high population growth rate is seen as a factor that will be devastating on the country’s quest of achieving economic growth. China is seen as rising while America is falling on the other end. Scholars have argued that America has already reached menopause while China is gearing herself up for the adolescent stage. These attributes have been used to explain the possibility of China removing the United States of America from its position as the Global Superpower (Nomura Research Institute, 1995). Being a Global Superpower calls for a country to be in growth, have strong economic foundation and projections and be on the rise in terms of its military advancement. All these characteristics are seen in China, with America exhibiting a downward trend both in its economic growth and living standards. Analysts have taken a keen interest on the trends of the two string countries, with the case seen as going to shape the world. There has been growing fear in America over China’s growing power, as posing a great threat to America’s status as a superpower. Some have blamed China for the slower performance of economic growth in America. There have been arguments to the fact that if China opened up its borders fully to American products, things would have been different. For example, concerns have been drawn towards the Hollywood movies among other American products being supplied in the United States of America without any restrictions. However, there are some analysts are of the idea that the American issue is a self inflicted problem that should be pointed to be a creation of other countries. To add on to this debate of China being a superpower by 2050 is the currency question. There have been suggestions from various quarters that the Chinese currency has been greatly undervalued (Marshall &Tyler, 2005). The status of China being an emerging super power has continued to be given wide coverage in different press across the world. Arguments as to whether or whether not China is going to remove the United States of America as the Global Superpower has flooded both the print and the digital media. Experts and scholars have attributed the increase in China’s advanced military and economic progression as a main reason that will catapult the country into being the Global Superpower. Initially, scholars referred to China as a ‘second superpower’ because it was considered to be at par with the United States of America in terms of global influence and power. There has been the use of the term ‘Group of two’ to refer to the ability and strength of both America and China in addressing the global issues (USITC Publication, 1985). In the context of economic, political and military potentiality, China sets herself on the stage of the most decorated country in the world currently. People have claimed that China is the worlds most fashionable and potential superpower. It poses a great challenge to the current status of the United States of America especially on the political and international policy making front. However, there have been insinuations that the rise of China as a world superstar may be challenged by the rise of the Asian Tigers. Consequently, there are projections indicating that China is set to direct the financial systems of the world by the year 2020. This is seen as an s step towards the achievement of China as being a global Superpower. Nonetheless, pundits have backed the Chinese renminbi to be stronger than the dollar in the next five years. The Chinese currency will then replace the dollar and will be the world’s reserve currency. This will eventually make China the Global Superpower, toppling the United States of America (Pillath & Carsten, 2006). Contrary views Despite the heated belief that China is set to topple the United States of America as a Global Superpower by the year 2050, there are those who have strongly disputed this fact. The argument that has been fronted is based on the industrialization of China. There has been a belief that China is fast becoming the world’s fast industrialized countries. However, critics are quick to point to the fact that most of the industries in China are foreign based and not owned by the Chinese themselves. China is seen to be just a mere manufacturing location for foreign countries. Furthermore, critics have appointed to the fact that China is grappling with a problem as gender imbalance, aging, population decline, and wages among other problems. These issues are said to be a time bomb in increase of crime in the country. Environmental pollution is also another great challenge of China and all these are seen as an impediment to China ever achieving the status of the Global Superpower (Ash & Robert, 1995). Conclusion China has a great potential both in its economic and political development, more than any other country in the world. However, the question as to whether China is set to remove America as a Global Superpower has been surrounded by heated debates. In determining this aspect, the focus on China has been segmented into various aspects; the people, natural resources and the political stability. The management of these three main areas seems to the determinants of whether China will ever remove America from the Global Superpower status by the year 2050. References Ash, Robert F. (1995). "Mainland Chinas Emerging Role In the Worlds Economy: Implications and Future Prospects" Issues & Studies. Taiwan) Vol. 31, Issue 1. Barnett, Doak. , A., (1974). "Chinas Uncertain Passage: Chinas Transition to the PostMao Era." Washington: Brookings Institution. Bergsten, C. Fred. (1996). "APEC After Osaka." Working paper series 96-1. Washington: Institute for International Economics. Central Intelligence Agency. (1992). "The Chinese Economy in 1991 and 1992: Pressure to Revisit Reform Mounts." Washington: CIA. Central Intelligence Agency. (1993). "Chinas Economy in 1992 and 1993: Grappling with the Risks of Rapid Growth." Washington: CIA. Economist Intelligence Unit. (1995). "Collective Bargaining: Slow March to Unionization in China." Business China (on-line, 29 May). Fairbanks, John K. (1987). The Great Chinese Revolution: 1800-1985. New York: Harper & Row. Kraus, Willy. (1982). Economic Development and Social Change in the Peoples Republic of China. New York: Springer-Verlag. Lardy, Nicholas R. (1994). China in the World Economy. Washington: Institute for International Economics. Marshall, Tyler (2005). The Price of Asias Growth; The U.S. is no longer the sole power that many nations look to for trade and protection" USA: Los Angeles TIMES. Wu, Baiyi. (2001). The Chinese Security Concept and its Historical Evolution" Journal of Contemporary China: Great Britain. Vol. 10, issue 27. Nomura Research Institute. (1995). The World Economy and Financial Markets in 1995. Tokyo: NRI. Pillath, H., Carsten (2006) "Cultural Species and Institutional Change in China" Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 40, issue USITC Publication. (1985). "Chinas Economic Development Strategies and Their Effects on US Trade." Washington: ITC. USTR. (1995). 1995 Trade Policy Agenda and 1994 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program. Washington: USTR. Zhao, Suisheng. (2001) "Liberalization in China and the prospects for democracy" TIME, Asiaweek, www. CNN.com Read More